Mario J. Bass Named President and CEO of Visit San Antonio

Visit San Antonio President and CEO Mario J. Bass

The Visit San Antonio Board of Directors has named Mario J. Bass as its new President and CEO, effective June 2, 2025. A San Antonio native, Bass brings over 30 years of distinguished experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, having held key roles in major markets across New York, Florida and Texas.

“After thoughtful consideration of possible candidates, our Board of Directors is thrilled to announce Mario’s appointment to lead Visit San Antonio and our industry into a future of growth and evolution,” said Hope Andrade, outgoing chair of the Visit San Antonio Board. “Mario’s extensive experience in the tourism industry coupled with his deep understanding of our community and culture make him uniquely qualified to lead San Antonio’s tourism and hospitality through the current uncertain times, period of impressive local development and ensure long-term success.”

Bass was selected Interim President & CEO of Visit San Antonio April 2025. Most recently, Bass served as Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer since returning to the organization in July 2024, having previously served for over five years, with his previous role as Chief Sales Officer. In the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer role, Bass oversaw five departments – Destination Sales, Destination Experience, Events, Membership and River Walk Operations – and contributed to the overall success of the San Antonio hospitality industry.

During his earlier tenure at Visit San Antonio, Bass achieved the highest annual room night production in the organization’s history, transformed the Destination Experience Department from a reactive resource into a proactive industry thought leader and capitalized on emerging business segments post-pandemic with a recovery deployment and engagement plan, among many other successes.

Prior to rejoining Visit San Antonio, Bass served as Chief Operating Officer at Visit Orlando, where he managed internal operations, led and implemented strategic initiatives and developed annual business plans, all while supporting the company’s mission. Before transitioning into the destination marketing organization sector, Bass built a robust, multi-market career in hotel sales and marketing with Marriott International.

“I’m grateful to the Board for their confidence in my vision to prioritize San Antonio’s greatest asset—our people—as we continue to elevate our home as a premier destination for both leisure and meetings,” said Bass. “San Antonio presents an exceptional blend of culture, history, cuisine, affordability, diverse accommodations and state-of-the-art convention options. Combined with our warm, welcoming community, the Alamo City truly stands out as a must-experience destination.”

“The Visit San Antonio team and I are focused on strengthening our core mission of bringing the world to San Antonio, to put heads in beds, fill our convention center, restaurants, attractions and cultural institutions to continue growing the positive economic impact and tax revenues, and keep my fellow San Antonians working.”

Loris Menfi, incoming chair of the Visit San Antonio Board, noted that filling Visit San Antonio’s leadership vacancy at such a critical time for the community required selecting a candidate with the vision and capability to drive lasting success.

“The search committee was deeply inspired by the overwhelming and unsolicited support Mario received from both industry leaders and the community. San Antonio can take immense pride in having one of its own possess such an outstanding résumé and extraordinary talent,” said Menfi. “From the outset, it was unmistakably clear to the selection committee that Mario’s exceptional track record and impeccable cultural fit made him the unequivocal choice to lead the Visit San Antonio team.”

The Visit San Antonio President & CEO search committee was composed of the Board’s Executive Committee: Andrade, Co-Founder and Partner of Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises and former Texas Secretary of State; Menfi, General Manager, San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk and San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk; Philip Stamm, retired Area Vice President and General Manager, Grand Hyatt & Hyatt Regency; John Carbajal, Residential Real Estate Agent, San Antonio Board of Realtors; James P. Limbaugh II, Chief Commercial Officer, Silver Eagle Beverages; Maria Martinez, General Manager, The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel.

Bass, who has multi-generational roots in San Antonio, grew up in the city’s South Side. Reflecting the city’s strong family-oriented culture, his wife Renee and son Aiden remain at the heart of his priorities.